SCV celebrating Festival of Lights online
With Hanukkah beginning at sundown Thursday amid a global health crisis, Santa Clarita Valley’s temples sought to bring together their communities the safest way possible — virtually, with several online gatherings.
Rabbi Mark Blazer of Temple Beth Ami, for example, is hosting an online candle-lighting ceremony each night of Hanukkah starting at 6 p.m. (See breakout box for link.)
“Our daily lives have been turned upside down. Almost every activity we engage in has been affected, and nearly all of us know someone who’s been affected by COVID-19,” he wrote in a piece published in The Signal last week. “In the midst of so much darkness, it is much more difficult to find the light, yet that is exactly what we are supposed to do as we celebrate this holiday season.”
The temple’s bingo, latke and vodka party Saturday is meant to raise the holiday spirit with fun and games, starting at 7 p.m. (See box for information.)
He’s also welcoming the community into his home virtually, with a Hanukkah cooking class. The class takes place Monday, broadcasting “live from the Blazer family kitchen” and promising a variety of latkes.
It’s in place of a traditional temple gathering to teach how to make latkes, a traditional potato pancake dish tied to the holiday’s tradition.
Congregation Beth Shalom offers service information on its website, cbs-scv.org, but no events have been announced for the immediate future due to potential health risks.
Rabbi Choni Marozov of Chabad of SCV said his temple is offering to help anyone who might be in need of candles or any other help to celebrate the holiday virtually this year.
Chabad of SCV can
be reached at 661-2543434. Congregation Beth Shalom can be reached at 661-254-2411. Temple Beth Ami can be reached at 661-255-6410.